Cricket: Century partnership sees Whangārei Boys' High home against City in prem cricket

Whangārei Boys' High School batsmen Sam Sweeney, scored 81, and was involved in a 127-run partnership with Sam Webb in the team's Premier Cricket match against City.

A 127-run partnership between Whangārei Boys' High School batsmen Sam Webb and professional player Sam Sweeney saw the team come out on top against City in Whangārei Premier Grade Cricket on Saturday.

WBHS won the toss against City at Cobham Oval and decided to bat. Luke Trigg looked in stylish form at the top of the order, before being run out for 23. Sweeney, the WBHS professional, then came to the wicket and after Kian Bird was dismissed for 14, he was joined by Webb.

The duo then added 127 for the school side with Sweeney scoring 81 and Webb, 44. WBHS finished with a very competitive 203 for 7 off their 40 overs.

City's best bowlers were Kieran Nelson (3-27) and Callum Gegg (2-36).

In reply, City started poorly and were 46 for 5 from 8 action-packed overs. With Harry Darkins injured and unable to bat in the top order, Garry Paine steadied the ship as best as he could, and he played smartly, getting City through 100 for 7 at the half way point.

But, after he was dismissed for 59 in the 27th over, City had little hope in passing the WBHS score and they were all out for 135 in the 29th over.

Kurt Oldridge was the pick of the WBHS bowlers and his 4-32 was ably supported by Sweeney (2-21), Michael Krige (2-24) and Webb (1-22).

Whangārei Boys' High School batsmen Sam Webb on his way to 44 in the game against City on Sataurday.

Maungakaramea won the toss on a fresh wicket at Kaipara Flats and asked the home team to bat.

Kaipara Flats were in immediate trouble with Mike Harris and Ian Wallace taking the first four wickets for just 37 runs.

The home side then had Byron Jollivet and Kevin Forde join forces and the pair added 68 for the 5th wicket before Neal Parlane dismissed Forde for 34, with a somewhat unorthodox run out.

A fumble by Parlane in the outfield saw Forde decide to take on the seasoned campaigner with a risky second run but an accurate throw to Bert Horner saw Forde strolling back to the pavilion in disbelief.

That started a procession of wickets for the Kaipara Flats side and Chris Page destroyed the middle and lower order, finishing with 5-11 off 7 brilliant overs.

Jollivet finished with a well comprised 62 off 94 balls, which included 7 fours and a six and Kaipara Flats limped through to 137 off 38 overs.

In reply, Maungakaramea started superbly and Tom Lovegrove, along with Page, added 80 for the first wicket before Page was bowled by Jollivet for 32.

Maungakaramea then lost Neal Parlane (1), who was knocked over by a beauty from Shaun Beamish, and Lovegrove (56) shortly after Page's dismissal to be 100 for 3 after 23 overs.

Bert Horner and Nathan Condon played solidly, however, to add 37 for the 4th wicket to ensure Maungakaramea cruised home in the second to last over, four wickets down.

Maungakaramea's win also saw them take the Karl Treiber Challenge Shield off Kaipara Flats, which is no easy task at Kaipara Flats' home ground.

In the final match of the round, Kamo played Onerahi Central at Kamo. Kamo batted first and scored 167, eventually being dismissed in the 40th over.

Caleb Boswell-Smith, having just returned from university, scored a fluent 52 and he added 79 with Max Turner (42), for the 6th wicket.

The pair played smartly, and their partnership gave the home side some momentum leading into the final 10 overs but unfortunately, the Kamo tail didn't wag and they lost their last 5 wickets for 36 runs.

Cullen Lowe was the pick of the OCCC bowlers and his 4 for 30 was superb. He was well supported by the ever-reliable Sean Doel (2-15), English medium pacer Alec Scott (2-16) and Fletcher Coutts (2-36), who has returned home from a short stint in Otago.

OCCC then set about chasing down the Kamo score and they lost Austin Ryburn with the score at 31. In quick time, Todd Beehre (24) and Gabe Field (1) were also dismissed and OCCC were reeling at 39-3.

Cullen Lowe then showed a glimpse of his all-round ability, scoring 21, before Boswell-Smith dismissed him. With Kamo well on top and OCCC needing 58, with 3 wickets remaining, it was up to Fletcher Coutts to see the side home.

Coutts played well, and it looked likely that OCCC would reach the target until he received a full toss from Bruce Martin, and was caught on the boundary for 45.

The final two wickets fell shortly after and OCCC were bowled out for 142. Kamo's medium pacers; Shane Burton (2-14), Ben Hyde (2-16) and Sean Daniels (2-20) were the best of the bowlers.

Other grades

Reserves:
WRMK Kerikeri 208-5 (Krish Patel 54, Akash Pundir 44no. Robert Nisbet 3-26, Jack Paton 1-39) beat Bream Bay 165 (R Singh 38, John Cunningham 28. Ash Parker 4-15, Axel Shepherd 2-36).
OCCC 114 (Robert Lee 35, BJ Howie 15. Warwick Rota 4-31, James Merry 2-6) lost to Westech Maungakaramea 115-8 (Ali White 18, James Merry 15. BJ Howie 2-16, Sam Walker 2-14).
Duracrete City 95-9 (Joseph Yovich 17. Caleb Beazley 3-27, Liam Froggatt 2-20) lost to WBHS 2nd XI 100-1 (Finn Trimble 58no).
Kamo beat Tikipunga (no scores provided)

Division 1:
Duracrete City Blaze 290-3 (George Poad 104, Ryan Krige 56, Brendan Marais 53. Locke Fielding 1-16, Nimish Singh) beat Kerikeri White 116-8 (Hunter Scott 20, Locke Fielding 13. A Brighton 3-26, Kian Naidu 1-10).
Duracrete City Firecrackers 155-8 (Hugo Waldegrave 45, Connell O'Sullivan 43. Nic Powell 3-31, Matthew Clent 2-1) lost to Kerikeri Blue 157-6 (Oscar Hart 82no, Cameron Dormer 10. Sanchit Chopra 3-29, Glyn Bone-Flemming 1-14).
Westech Maungakaramea 197-6 (Nick Byles 109, Ollie Walker 28. Monte Rolston 2-34, Riley Syers 1-16) beat Kamo 158-2 (Ryan Parkes 55, Monte Rolston 39. Ollie Comber 1-10).